Liverpool may be famous for the Beatles and football but it has much more than that to offer. For shopping fans, the city is a must. The newly opened Met Quarter features some of the most stylish shops in the North West including All Saints and Miss Sixty. And if you want to follow in the footsteps of the footballers wives then you need to head to Cricket, Liverpool’s most famous designer store and mingle with the likes of Colleen McLoughlin and Alex Curran.

If it’s music you’re after then you can’t go far wrong in the music capital of the North West. With venues like the Carling Academy and Barfly, you can catch some of the hottest bands around. And Liverpool is not short of talent with bands like The Zutons and The Coral emerging in the last few years. Read the rest of this entry »

Nottingham is lively city, full of music and entertainment, as well as history and culture. For those looking for a day of art or history appreciation, and the quiet restoration that it can bring, the city has a variety of museums and art galleries.

The free Angel Row Gallery at the Central Library showcases contemporary works by living artists. Most shows are experimental and thought-provoking in nature, and usually include some interactive exhibits for children and families alongside the more contemplative displays. Read the rest of this entry »

Bristol is the largest city in the south-west of England, with a population of nearly 400,000 people. It is situated near the Bristol Channel, and along the River Avon, which runs directly through the city.

During WWII the city was heavily bombed due to its extremely busy port and docks area in the middle of the city. Since then the city has been rebuilt with some buildings having survived the bombings. The ports and docks closed in 1962 when they were moved to the edge of the city on the Bristol Channel. Read the rest of this entry »

As you would expect from the fourth largest city in England, there is plenty to see and do when you visit Leeds, whether that visit is for business or pleasure. In fact, Leeds even received the coveted Conde Nast Traveler magazine Reader’s Award as the UK’s favorite city as recently as 2004 and was voted the best English city to visit outside London in 2005.

During November and early December, there is a Christmas Market that takes over the Millennium Square area of the city. Then in the start of the new year, the square turns into Europe’s largest open air ice skating rink, so you can practice your skating skills. Music fans will want to make sure that they time their visit to coincide with the International Pianoforte Competition, although you may need to plan in advance as this event is only held every three years.

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Manchester Town Hall is located in Manchester, England. It is the home of Manchester’s administration and government. Before the current town hall was erected, the heads of the city used to take office and convened in the police station which was located in King Street. But Manchester soon outgrew her own governing office. The city was growing rapidly and ultimately became a center for the textile trade. This meant that the city was taking on tons of revenue and can now afford to house its government in a new location.

There were many suggestions as to how the Manchester Town Hall was to be constructed. The one that was chosen was shaped like an uneven triangle. A competition was held with regards to the design of the building and it was Waterhouse’s innovative and creative design that stood above the rest. The overall design of the Town Hall is that of “Victorian Gothic Revival”. It was created by the great and notorious Alfred Waterhouse during the later part of the 19th century. Read the rest of this entry »